Decision makers

IKEA, Taco Bell, and Burger King: Keep horses out of our food!

Hi, I'm Wild Mustang Robin and I love horses. When I found out that horse meat was hiding in meatballs, tacos, and burgers, I was horrified! The horse meat scandal is happening in Europe, but it could happen in America, too, especially since right now, the USDA is reviewing an application for a horse slaughter plant to open in New Mexico and a law approving horse slaughter in Oklahoma.

At first I thought, "How could the food retailers trick us like that?" Then I found out that they got tricked, too. It was the meat processors who mixed horse meat with the burgers. As soon as IKEA, Taco Bell, and Burger King found out what was happening, they took steps right away to make sure that horse meat wasn't ending up in any of their European products.

But I'm worried it could start happening here. I think it's important that companies like IKEA, Taco Bell, and Burger King tell their U.S. consumers and the people trying to open horse slaughter plants here that they won't serve horse meat. If these companies speak out, maybe the horse slaughter plant in New Mexico won't be built!

HSUS and other groups are taking legal action to stop the slaughterhouse, and even the Obama administration is urging Congress to pass a ban on horse slaughter. But as long as the meat company thinks they have a market, they'll keep fighting to slaughter horses in the U.S.

That's why I'm asking IKEA, Taco Bell, and Burger King to make a pledge to never buy or sell horse meat in the United States. Will you sign my petition and share it with your friends who love horses?

We are joining student Robin Warren in asking you to make a pledge to never buy or sell horse-meat in America. Please also pledge to oppose horse slaughter in America because if the horses are slaughtered here, there is a greater chance that our beef supply will get contaminated.

Making a public statement about your intentions of keeping horse meat out of your products will send a message to meat processors that there is no market for horse meat here. It will also repair consumer confidence in the safety of your products and emphasize that there has never been horse meat found in your products here and there never will be.